Gameplay will be familiar to anyone who's played side-scrolling platform games. Basically, Nikita runs, jumps and climbs in order to find health gems, spells and amulets and to fight off spiders and bats and all the usual plethora of monsters. The ability to change into a she-wolf adds a lot to the standard formula, though, since there are places where you must do so in order to pass through, and you can't shapeshift at will since you need enough mana to do so (or enough shapeshifting potions). Puzzle elements are also sprinkled throughout the game -- for example, sometimes you need to use a levitation potion to get to a high ledge.

The graphics are excellent, and in contrast to the "flat" 2D background of most games, Inner Worlds boasts an outstanding illusion of depth, with many doorways you can enter. With three very different worlds, a lot of secrets to discover, and solid gameplay, this is one platform game that will keep you up nights, and will especially please Castlevania fans. Two thumbs up, and three cheers to Sleepless Software for releasing the game as freeware after its publisher stopped carrying it :)